In tribute to National Suicide Prevention Month, the ETSU counseling center has put together “Story Swap ‘N Snack,” a story-telling event for students to share their mental health journeys and listen to other stories shared while providing snacks for participants to enjoy.
The event took place on Sept. 1 in the East Tennessee Room from 1-3:30 p.m. and was open to all visitors to sit, chat and listen.
The event was hosted by Cynthia Millhorn, a dual master’s candidate in storytelling studies and communications as well as liberal studies, and Katie Ward, a counseling center intern and graduate assistant. According to Millhorn, the event has been in the making since the last week of August.
“We’re really taking a creative healing approach to September which is also Suicide Awareness Prevention Month,” Millhorn said, “We wanted to really invite people in so they wouldn’t feel triggered by certain phrasing and see that you can take baby steps into healing and repairing your mental health.”
Also featuring communications and storytelling studies master’s candidate Casadie Smith, students were encouraged to attend and support the mission of breaking the stigma and speaking out on their relationships with mental health through their stories.
“My personal experiences with mental illness have been a huge influence on how I present my story to the world, and I believe that through normalizing the stories and experiences of those who have struggled with their mental health, we can create a world that offers less stigma and more understanding and kindness.” Smith said.
The counseling center will hold a variety of events within the next six weeks to promote mental health and resources on campus. Visit the counseling center’s Instagram at @etsucounselingcenter for more information.
